It’s a re-run of the 2024 Scudetto Final, a stellar challenge at Palaverde on Sunday at 6 p.m. with Savino del Bene Scandicci. A parade of world superstars for an assured spectacle on the court and off given the announced “sold out”, the first of the season in the “home” of the Panthers. It’s the sixth day of Serie A1, with reigning Italian champion Prosecco DOC Imoco Volleyball remaining the only undefeated team, leading alone with 18 points after 6 matches played (one more due to the advance in Perugia because of the World Club Championship in December), with all three-point victories. Scandicci is traveling in the upper echelons, third with 12 points the result of 4 wins and 1 loss. In last midweek Conegliano’s convincing 3-0 win over Vallefoglia in Pesaro, while Savino beat Talmassons (3-0) at home, redeeming last Sunday’s defeat in Busto Arsizio. Full squad for coach Santarelli. BACKGROUND AND EX: Fresh ex in the Gialloblù ranks is Zhu Ting, the Chinese player in the last two seasons on Scandicci’s strength; Marina Lubian also played in Tuscany before wearing the Panthers’ jersey, as did Isabelle Haak in her first two seasons in Italy. On the other side, the former is Giulia Gennari, for three seasons (2019/22) on the strength of Prosecco DOC Imoco. Scandicci coach Marco Gaspari was the Panthers’ head coach from 2012 to 2014.
BACKGROUND AND FORMER: Fresh former in the Gialloblù ranks is Zhu Ting, the Chinese in the last two seasons in force at Scandicci, also Marina Lubian before wearing the jersey of the Panthers played in Tuscany, as well as Isabelle Haak in her first two seasons in Italy. On the other side, the former is Giulia Gennari, for three seasons (2019/22) on the strength of Prosecco DOC Imoco. Scandicci coach Marco Gaspari was the Panthers’ head coach from 2012 to 2014.
REBITTERS: Canessa and Cesare
MEDIA: Panthers again live on TV for this sixth round, the match will be live on free-to-air on Rai Sport HD and streaming on volleyballworld.tv,
TICKETS: a few tickets still available online today at vivaticket.co.uk, heading toward the first “sold out” of the season.
SPONSOR DAY BAUSCH+LOMB, IN THE PRE-GAME FREE SCREENING FOR FANS OF THE PANTERS: The sponsor of the day will be Bausch+Lomb, a world leading company in the world of lenses and optics, which will dress the match and award the best player of the match. Nice opportunity offered by Bausch+Lomb to the Gialloblù fans is the possibility in the pre-game (from 4:30 to 5:30 p.m.), to support at the Palaverde, with the “professionals” of Bausch+Lomb, a quick visual screening to check for vision defects to be corrected, just show up at the special space under the south curve.
ANIMATION: The new attraction for adults and children at Palaverde, the mascot “Panty” made in collaboration with Trudi and sponsored by Testa and Molinaro, will still be present after last Sunday’s debut. With her there will also be space in the set intervals for the performance of the Blu Royal dancers.
STATEMENTS DANIELE SANTARELLI
“It is a game we are looking forward to because we know there will be a great atmosphere in a full and warm Palaverde, it will be nice to challenge a top team like Scandicci in front of our fans. Two very strong teams are facing each other, there are a lot of top players in the two teams and the show will be really of the highest level, the Italian league offers great events and this match is certainly one of them.
We are doing well, now I have the full team and this makes the task easier, on Wednesday with Vallefoglia I saw good steps forward in terms of play and automatisms, although we can do better, especially in reception which will be a very important fundamental in Sunday’s challenge with Scandicci.
Savino del Bene is one of the strongest teams at the absolute level, we know them well, they have an arsenal with many, but many very strong players, they beat well, they have physicality, powerful attack and a long roster that allows luxury alternatives. We are not deluded by Busto’s misstep, against us we will see the best Scandicci and we have to prepare for a tough match where everyone will give their best, so maximum attention and desire to improve again because it will take the best version of my team if we want to continue the winning streak in front of our audience.”